2017 MEGUIAR’S MOTOREX PINNACLE WINNERS
MEGUIAR’S MOTOREX PINNACLE WINNER – STREET MACHINE
PETER HINZ – 1951 CHEVY PICK-UP
Built by Pat’s Pros Restos (PPR), this is one slick truck. Peter’s nicknamed it BLOWOUT, because it went into PPR to address an overheating issue and it turned into a full-on, 10-month build! In addition to taking out the Street Machine Pinnacle award at Meguiar’s MotorEx, the truck also snagged three Excellence Medals; Gold for Engine Bay, Gold for Design & Execution and Silver for Bodywork. To improve ride and handling, PPR grafted a Heidt’s IFS under the nose, four-bar in the rear, coil-overs all ’round and bolted up 20×8 and 20×10.5 American Legend billet-forged Thunderbolts with colour coded centres. Power is courtesy of a 383ci SB Chev feeding a four-speed TH700 trans and Ford nine-inch filled with a Truetrac centre and highway friendly 3.50:1 gears. Although stock looking the body incorporates numerous modifications such one-piece bonnet, new engine bay sheet metal, widened guards and lots of smoothing and blending of all the awkward areas. Paint is Glasurit Sonic Titanium, which nicely offsets the red leather interior – which has been updated with all the mod cons like air conditioning, central locking, power steering and power windows.
MEGUIAR’S MOTOREX PINNACLE WINNER – HOT ROD
GRANT PECK – 1934 FORD COUPE
Called ‘SHIRAZ’, Grant’s burgundy 1934 three-window coupe has been in the build for 13 years!
“My wife bought the body for me in 2004 when I was posted over in Afghanistan,” says Grant. “Although I wanted to keep the build as simple as possible, it had a lot of stops ‘n’ starts, progressing as time and finances permitted.”
Despite the prolonged build, the results are nothing short of amazing.
The chopped, Deuce Customs body sits on a custom chassis by Peter Townsend and has been outfitted with a stainless Rod Tech IFS, four-bar rear, coil-overs all ’round and Intro billet wheels. Motivation is via a warmed over 350 Chev, complete with TH400 and shortened Fairlane nine-inch LSD.
The immaculate body and paint is by Ronnie from Winner’s Circle Refinishes, while Bad Image laid on the graphics.
“I love the colour and graphics,” says Grant. “the graphics carry the interior colour over to the exterior, which also ties in with the all-black underside.”
Part way through the project, Grant fell seriously ill and lost interest.
“If it wasn’t for my son-in-law, Luke Elliott and Matt Gilkes from Inside Rides, SHIRAZ would never have been finished,” says Grant. “They both had a big hand in getting it done.”
Matt’s all leather interior includes a one-piece hood lining, custom bucket seats, hand-made console, Dakota Digital dash and a thumping Alpine stereo with Pioneer amps and two 10-inch subs behind the seat.
MEGUIAR’S MOTOREX PINNACLE WINNER – TUNER
AMIEE TELFER – 1988 SUZUKI SWIFT
Amiee describes her wild Swift as not quite a ‘barn find’, more a ‘shed find’. Originally built in around 2006 the Suzuki made Auto Salon Final Battle, then essentially sat untouched until Amiee’s husband bought it from the original owner in late 2016 as Christmas present for her!
“Other than updating the stereo and wheels, it’s pretty much still the same,” says Amiee, “I was really surprised to pick up the tuner award, as there was some awesome Evo’s there.”
The Swift’s updated audio system sports a 7.5-inch TV screen in front and 24-inch screen in the back, along with 12-inch subs, Focal splits, Odyssey battery and a JVC head unit. Rounding out the interior is Sparco buckets, lots of painted fiberglass, flat floors, plus MOMO steering wheel, gear knob and pedals – the Swift also wears MOMO Corse Next wheels.
Powering the pocket rocket is an Autronic-controlled turbocharged 1.3L Suzuki Swift GTi motor complete with custom intake and exhaust manifold, GT28R turbo, forged internals, full stainless exhaust, plus a PWR intercooler and radiator.
“The car weighs next to nothing,” says Amiee, “but it makes 185kW at the tyres, so it’s a lot fun to drive – it’s far from all show.”
Amiee especially likes the House of Kolor graphics and Atomic Orange paintwork, Jetspeed body kit and detailed undercarriage.
“I know the graphics are a bit old school,” says Amiee, “but that’s what I like about them.”
MEGUIAR’S MOTOREX PINNACLE WINNER – CUSTOM CRUISER
BENNY GATT – 1939 LINCOLN ZEPHYR
Despite this wild ride being finished some 15 years ago, Benny’s DUMPED Zephyr still looks a million dollars – and is still as wild looking as ever. It’s also a true Custom Cruiser, racking up thousands of miles and attending shows all over the country. Based on a Deco Rides fiberglass body, the HOK Burgundy Kandy show stopper rides on a customized chassis with Jaguar front end and air-bags all ’round so that it can be dumped in the weeds when parked. Terry Wood at Camden Country Customs built most of the car which included radically altering and radically channeling an already radically modified and channeled body. Being a driver, Benny screwed together a stout 351 Cleveland himself, which is backed by a FMX auto and nine-inch. DUMPED was at MotorEx as part of the Benny Gatt display, celebrating his 50-year drag racing career. He was blown away to pick up a trophy – especially a Pinnacle Award nonetheless.